Amerindian leaders continue to plug their demand for Amerindian land rights to be respected – 28th Jan 2013

As the Government continues to deliberate on the ruling of High Court Judge Diana Insanally, the Amerindian People’s Association said, it will continue to pressure the authorities, as it fights for the rights of its people; particularly those residents and supporters of the Isseneru Amerindian community.

The ruling which was handed down two weeks ago said, that the miners had legal rights to operate on the disputed land, and that they can continue to use the land for the mining of gold, diamond and other precious minerals.
But the association’s President, Sharon Atkinson, is not having any of that. She said that apart from the land issue, there are also some environmental concerns.
Atkinson said, the association will continue its protest action and exhaust all local avenues to find a redress on the matter.
Attorney-at-Law David James was also part of the picketing exercise. He said, that he joined in solidarity with his counterparts since he believes an injustice has been done.
Justice Insanally ruled that under the Amerindian Act 2006, Amerindians acting as second defendants in the land dispute were acting without jurisdiction.

Joan Chang, who brought the petition on behalf of a representative of Platinum Mining Inc, had a valid mining licence.

The court also ruled that the GGMC was acting in a capacity that was not legal, and as a result, the cease and desist order made against Platinum Mining Inc. was not valid.